BERLIN—German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Europe stands by its new aid package for Greece but needs clarity from Athens.
Merkel spoke before traveling Wednesday to Cannes, France, where she will hold crisis talks with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou following his surprise decision to call a referendum on the euro130 billion ($177 billion) deal.
European officials want to know when Greece plans to hold the vote and what question it will pose.
Merkel said that "we want to implement this program but we need clarity for that."
As for Papandreou's referendum call itself, she said only that "we have taken note of the decision."
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